I stepped off the bus with a young woman and the little girl clutched in her arms, and I glanced at the wooden sign that read Littleford.
Emily! the old woman called, tears welling in her eyes. Her silver hair was tucked under a white kerchief. Give me Katie, love.
The villagers gave the strangers a curious stare, but Granny Hargreaves and Emily hurried past, lugging a suitcase and the child without looking back. When they reached the cottage, the old lady slammed the gate and rushed inside.
Emily!
Her grownup granddaughter was already weeping at the kitchen table, hugging Katie tightly. Emilys tears fell unabated.
I ran away from my husband, Granny!
What on earth?
Just the same old thingshes harsh, he shouts all the time, threatens to take our baby away. I cant breathe near him, I cant even laugh. Im exhausted.
Granny Hargreaves stared silently at her, a frown forming.
Three years of marriage and its already falling apartwhat a modern world.
Emily wiped her face, lifted her chin and met the old womans gaze.
Granny if you cant understand me, Ill leave, Ill go away. I left my own mothers house for the same reasonshe never got me, she kept scolding. She says I should endure, that a bad husband wont speak kindly. But how am I to live when Im being crushed?
Grannys frown softened as she pulled Emily into a hug, running her fingers through her hair.
Dont go. Stay. I wont say a word if you dont want to. Ive got little left, but Id rather have you here. This house will be yours alone, my dear, my beautiful girl
***
Emily, a city girl, had forgotten her hometown. Rumours swirled through the village that shed once married a rogueshed even mentioned it once in passing. From that man she fled to her Grannys cottage, suitcase and toddler in tow, hoping to hide. Emily kept herself respectable, found work delivering post, and her good nature soon won over the locals.
Emily moved in with the Hargreaves lot. Everyone there is cheerful and helpful, always ready to lend a hand. Lovely lot.
Katie, Emily said one afternoon while picking berries in the garden, dont be afraid, love, you can eat these. Heres a strawberryred, sweetand over there, blackcurrants.
A little girl in a frock reached for the bushes.
From beyond the fence a scruffy black dog with white patches perked up an ear, looked at the mother and child, and gave a short bark.
Good dog, Emily smiled.
The fence rustled again and a curlyhaired boy poked his head out. Katie stared at him wideeyed.
Paul! a voice called, and an elderly man shuffled over. Good afternoon.
Afternoon, Emily replied.
Paul, the curlyhaired lad, gathered courage and stepped closer, clutching his small hands together as he stared at Katie, who was a shade older than him.
Emily beckoned, Come over, lad. Weve got berries here. And Katieshell love playing with you.
Pauls grandfather, Mr. Thompson, leaned on the fence, his tone gentle.
I didnt know you had a Katie. Over here, Paul wanders about with no friends. Its a good thing weve got our dog, Spot.
Emily beamed.
Our Katie was getting lonely. Come on, Paul!
Paul, eager, nudged the fence aside and slipped through a gap, Spot trotting after him. The children hit it off instantly, their laughter ringing until night fell.
***
Pauls father, a quiet man named John, visited on weekends. He looked at Emily with a mix of admiration and curiosity, never taking his eyes off her. He brought flowers, gifts, and would drive his battered old estate car to the river with her.
Granny Hargreaves approved.
Oh, Emily, what a fine lad. He left his wife, who turned out to be a rogue, and now hes raising Paul on his own. Hardworking, sober, and he lives in the town because his job is there and he has a flat.
Emily felt a flutter. She liked John, but fear gnawed at herwhat if her exhusband turned up? Legally, he was still her husband.
She confessed her worries; John needed to know who she was seeing.
Ill wait, John promised, and Ill wait for you, Emily, as long as it takes. When the time comes, Ill take you back to the city.
Dont you dare
Emily, Im leaving tomorrow, John said, looking straight into her eyes. Watch over Paul for me. Im getting old, and I cant keep an eye on the lad. Bringing him to the city now is riskyhis mothers still around, hoping for a claim.
Dont worry, Ill look after him, Emily replied, smiling. Travel safely, love, and dont fret.
Years passed. Granny Hargreaves grew frail, and Emily tended to her, feeding her with a spoon. Katie started school. No word came from Emilys exhusband, and she began to settle into her new routine. Paul grew into a mischievous teenager, often trying to skip school. His grandfather fell ill and stopped leaving the house.
Emily zipped between the two cottages, caring for the elders. John still turned up on weekends, his visits rare but always bringing a basket of homegrown vegetables.
More years slipped by, and Emily saw Granny Hargreaves off to her final rest, feeling like a bird set free.
Her teenage daughter, Katie, started rebelling, and Emily would often find herself weeping into a pillow. Paul, now a headstrong lad, clashed with Emily, his voice hoarse from shouting. Granny Thompson, his greataunt, moved in for the summer, and her grandchildren ran wild, trampling Emilys vegetable rows and turning the raspberry patch into a playground.
Katie! Emily called from the garden, Come here, you little terror!
What do you want? Katie muttered, slouching on the porch.
Emily gestured toward the chicken coop.
Whats happened? Katie asked, annoyed.
You didnt close the coop, love! I just stepped out for a delivery and look whats happened.
What does it matter? Katie snapped.
Cant you see it? Emily pleaded, her lips trembling.
Katie puffed up her cheeks, walked closer and sighed.
I dont know, Mum. I have lessons to study for.
What will we eat this winter? The chickens are all pecked out, nothing left.
Because you should have shut the coop.
I didnt, did I?
I dont know! Katie rolled her eyes and stormed off, while Emilys tears fell silently.
The garden was a mess: trampled beds, a gaping hole in the fence, the whole barrier leaning askew.
Paul, I need to talk, Emily called, scrambling through the fence gap. Paul stood tall, a mate at his side, laughing. She stopped by the dogs kennel and peered inside.
Ah, Spots snout is all puffed up. Hungry now?
What are you on about, Aunt Emily? Paul sneered. Talking to the dogs?
The boys laughed at her.
Paul, your dog knocked over the coop
It wasnt Spot. Our chickens keep to the yard, they never bother us.
Emily stared, bewildered, at the boy whod turned from a shy curlyhaired child into a detached teen.
She rarely called her own mother; the calls were short and cold.
Mum, whats wrong? Im busy, Emily said when the line finally connected.
Whats keeping you? her mother asked. Your new family? Your stepdads health? Or those grandchildren?
Theyre not strangers to me! Emily snapped. If you keep talking like that, forget you ever had a mother.
And I never had a mother either, love
Then stop calling.
The line clicked dead. Emily bit her lip, anger rising.
One afternoon, after a long day, she decided to catch a bus back to the city to surprise John. Shed learned his address from Paul and went straight from the station. A young woman opened the door.
Yes, were the Harrisons. Im with John.
And you are? Emily asked.
His wife, of course.
The woman smiled slyly, and Emily felt a sudden urge to run.
John arrived that weekend, as if nothing had changed, and asked to speak with Emily.
Why are you acting like a child? he said. I live with Anne now, whats there to lose?
Because youre always busy, with your farm and your chores, Emily retorted, her voice cracking.
Dont be ridiculous, John muttered. Im fed up with my first wifes drama. Ive got to get Paul back to the city.
Emilys heart sank.
Months slipped by. Granny Hargreaves passed, and Emily cared for her until the end, feeding her with a spoon. Katie went to school. No word from the exhusband, and Emily finally felt a peace settle over her life. Paul became a reckless teenager, often skipping classes. His grandfather grew frail and stayed indoors.
Emily shuttled between the two houses, looking after the elders. John still turned up on weekends, bringing a basket of fresh produce, which Emily loaded into his old estate car herself.
Years later, Emily watched as Paul, now a young man, left for university, and she felt a strange sense of freedom.
One night, Katie, now a teenager, burst into the kitchen, her voice trembling.
Mum, Im scared, she whispered. I feel sick in the mornings, Im losing weight, and every bite makes me feel queasy.
Sounds like you need a doctor, Emily said, trying to keep calm.
Maybe Im pregnant.
Emilys eyes widened.
Where did that come from? she asked.
Its Paul, Katie blurted, cheeks flaming. I never thought it could happen.
Emilys mind raced. She stormed to the neighboring Harrisons gate, but only Old Mrs. Thompson peeked out, clenching a fist. Emily slipped back through the fence gap, heart pounding.
Paul! she called, catching him in the yard with a friend.
Whats this about? Paul asked, eyeing her warily.
I need to speak with you. Bring your mate, and lets go inside.
An older man, Mr. Thompson, emerged from the porch, eyes flashing.
Emily, what are you up to? he shouted, his voice ringing like a siren.
Your son is a good lad, but youre meddling! Paul retorted, his tone sharp.
Emily felt the world tilt.
Leave it be, Emily, Mr. Thompson growled. Your meddling will only make things worse.
She turned away, whispering to herself, I wont let anyone hurt Katie.
Later, a dreamlike vision of Granny Hargreaves appeared, urging, Let it go, love.
Emily returned from the city with a man she barely knew. Katie set aside her book and rushed to meet him.
This is your father, the stranger said.
Dad? Where did you find him? Katie asked, eyes wide.
The man looked at Emily, his expression unreadable.
Youve stolen my daughter, he snarled. Youll pay for this.
Emily shrugged. Lifes done its worst to me already, Len, Im done with the drama.
The whole of Littleford buzzed about Emilys bandit husband, whod arrived with a massive guard dog that immediately set upon Spot, the neighbourhood pooch.
Did you see it? old Mr. Gorham shouted from his garden. I saw him from my window!
No one could produce proof, but the dogs ears were torn, its tail tucked, and it whined in its kennel, refusing to leave. Mr. Gorham, sleepless and worried for his grandson Paul, called the local constable.
Soon Paul appeared, stepping out of a battered van, his sister Katie hopping out in a white dress, hair neatly done.
Granddad, were heading to the town for dinner, dont lose us, Paul called.
Mr. Gorham, bewildered, rushed to the Hargreaves fence and shouted, Whats this? You said you didnt want Katie!
Paul stared at his father, Len, turning pale.
Dont lie, old man! I never said that!
Wait! Mr. Gorham pleaded. Whats happening? Did they marry?
Emily stepped forward, voice firm. You lot keep shouting in my yard. Stay off my property!
The guard dog, a hulking beast, lunged at Spot, tearing its ear. The old man dove into the fence gap, screaming in terror.
Later, at a roadside café, Paul sat across from his new fatherinlaw, Leon, a stout man in a tweed jacket.
You never intended to tie the knot? Leon asked.
No, I love Katie, Paul replied, cheeks flushing. Id have gone to the registry if I could.
Your dads against it? Leon probed.
Hes getting on in years, forgetful.
Emily interjected, Dont speak to my son like that.
The conversation turned polite, and soon they were signing papers for Katies wedding, the village gossiping about whether the couple could last under the watchful eye of the Hargreaves new high fence, freshly built at a cost of a few hundred pounds.
Leon walked over to his former wife, gently touching her hair.
Will you come with me, Emily?
No, she replied, smiling. You have your own life now.
Perhaps another time, he said, chuckling.
Emilys daughter, now a young woman, approached her mother.
Mum, where did you find him? she asked as they walked down the lane.
I found him when I needed someone, Emily answered. I ran away from a man who would have broken me, and now were just old acquaintances.
Does that happen often?
Even more than you think, love.
They sat together on the porch, arms around each other.
Forgive me, Mum, for the pain I caused.
No bother, I waited for you to see the truth. Youre my daughter, my Hargreaves, and well get through this together.
Maybe if Paul ever harms you again, Ill throw him out myself.
Let him try, Katie. There are more of us than you think; well manage.
Later, John knocked on the door, fists pounding.
What do you want? Emily asked.
They say you married my son, Paul, didnt you? Who gave you permission?
Whats that about permission? Emily retorted, surprised. I raised your boy; Im not a stranger to him.
Ive decided to take Paul back to the city.
He wont go, he wont abandon his wife. Besides, your flat is tiny, and your girl will object.
Johns shoulders slumped.
Im alone now.
Why so? Love, there are few fools wholl wait like I do.
Enough, were getting old, the grandchildren will be here soon, perhaps its time to unite.
Emily crossed her arms, her voice steady. Never. You Gibbons lot are used to playing with our feelings. From now on, my son stays with us, and youre out.
Youre being unreasonable, he snapped.
The gate slammed shut with a heavy thud, echoing their broken ties.
